Syria in 'War Against Terror,' Minister Says
Moallem Warns Assad Regime Opponents of Terrorist Blowback
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UNITED NATIONS—Syrian Foreign Minister Walid
al-Moallem said Monday his government is conducting a "war against
terror" and warned that foreign governments supporting the opposition
could one day suffer the terrorist blowback. In a speech before the U.N. General Assembly, Mr. Moallem hit out at the U.S., Europe and regional countries helping the opposition spread what he called "sedition and turmoil" and accused the rebels' backers of supplying their clients with chemical weapons. "What is happening in my country has become clear to everyone. Yet, some countries do not want to recognize that Al-Qaeda, the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world, and its many offshoots…are fighting in Syria. The scenes of murder, manslaughter and eating human hearts were shown on TV screens, but did not touch blind consciences," he said. "There is no civil war in Syria, but it is a war against terror." The foreign minister dismissed as a "bad joke" the argument of Western and some regional governments that they channel support only to moderate rebels in Syria led by the Syrian Opposition Coalition and its Free Syrian Army. "Terrorism means only terrorism; it cannot be classified as moderate terrorism and extremist terrorism," he said. Mr. Moallem had a warning for the regime's international opponents. He claimed there are now "terrorists" from 83 countries fighting what he called a global "jihad" in Syria. "One day, those terrorists will return to their respective countries, and then no country in the world will be immune of this terrorism which recognizes no borders, nor geography," he said. "The people of New York have witnessed the devastations of terrorism…the same way we are suffering now in Syria," he said. "How can some countries…claim to fight terrorism in all parts of the world, while supporting it in my country?" Friday evening, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution demanding Syria hand over or destroy its chemical weapons by mid-2014 – the first significant joint Security Council action since the conflict erupted in 2011. The U.N. estimates more than 100,000 people have been killed. Friday's resolution, which was based on a Russian-U.S. deal struck mid-September, came after Damascus submitted information on its chemical stockpiles to The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and signed on to an international convention banning chemical weapons. Mr. Moallem pledged "full implementation" of the convention and cooperation with the OPCW. He blamed the rebels for launching chemical weapons attacks in Syria and their regional and Western backers for providing those weapons. He didn't name those countries. OPCW inspectors are due to arrive in Damascus on Tuesday to begin the potentially dangerous task of identifying Syria's chemical weapons for eventual destruction. The Assad regime until recently had never confirmed Syria had chemical weapons. The U.S. and many of its allies have blamed it for an attack in Damascus on Aug. 21 that the U.N. said left "numerous casualties, particularly among civilians and including many children." Damascus denied the allegation and blamed the rebels for the attack. The rebels too denied responsibility. Mr. Moallem reiterated the Assad regime will participate in Geneva II peace talks, though he insisted the "first step" towards a political solution is an end by foreign governments to support of the Syrian rebels. "Syria has repeatedly announced that she embraces a political solution of its crisis; it is now for those who claim to support a political solution in Syria to stop all hostile practices and policies against Syria, and to head to Geneva without preconditions," he said. The foreign minister said the Syrian government welcomed efforts to "bridge the gap of mistrust" between the U.S. and Iran, saying he hoped it would impact "constructively on the stability of international relations." Iran is a major supporter of the Assad regime and has played a key role in helping the government during the 2½ year-old conflict. —Joe Lauria contributed to this article. Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@dowjones.com |
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